Jammu, Jul 15 (IANS): Seven legislators, who were expelled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for cross-voting in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative council elections last year, have pledged support to former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma in the July 19 presidential poll.

The decision was taken in a meeting here late Saturday, former BJP legislature party leader Chaman Lal Gupta said Sunday.

The BJP had won 11 assembly seats in the 2008 state elections, which was its highest ever tally in the House. However, seven of its 11 legislators were expelled for voting against the party candidate in the legislative council poll in April last year.

Sangma has been backed by the BJP for the post of president.

Besides BJP, the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, which has three seats in the assembly, is supporting Sangma.

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Srinagar Sunday to seek support.

The National Conference, an alliance partner in the ruling coalition in the state, and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party are supporting Mukherjee.